Brendan Griffin
Question:1251. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding the vaccination programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42216/21]
View answerVaccination Programme
Questions (1251)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Home Care Packages
Questions (1252)
Brendan Howlin
Question:1252. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the recruitment crisis in the homecare sector; if he is satisfied that his Department’s policy on this sector will deliver on policy to allow all persons who wish to remain living in their own homes to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42218/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government (2020) commits to the introduction of “a statutory scheme to support people to live in their own homes, which will provide equitable access to high-quality, regulated home care.” In this regard, the Department is in the process of developing a statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support. It is intended that the new scheme will provide equitable and transparent access to high-quality services based on a person’s assessed care needs.
As part of this work, the Department is examining the potential demand and cost of introducing such a scheme. Following this, work will be undertaken to examine the associated workforce requirements for the introduction of such a scheme and my Department will engage with other sectors as required in this regard.
Health Services Staff
Questions (1253)
Seán Sherlock
Question:1253. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health the amount paid to companies (details supplied) in each month since March 2020 to August 2021. [42226/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (1254)
Pa Daly
Question:1254. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health the waiting lists for primary school children in each county; the number of children still awaiting their routine second and sixth class dental check-ups for each of 2018, 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42229/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 1255 answered with Question No. 1038.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (1256)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1256. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); when they will be called to have the procedure carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42243/21]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (1257)
David Cullinane
Question:1257. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health his plans to add emphysema and asthma to the long-term illness scheme or otherwise reimburse costs; the reason these conditions are not included on the long-term illness scheme; if he will reconsider same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42244/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The conditions covered by the scheme are: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; Parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide.
Under the Scheme, patients receive drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Scheme at this time. However, a review of the current eligibility framework, including the basis for existing hospital and medication charges, will be carried out under commitments given in the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy. In the meantime, for people who are not eligible for the LTI scheme, there are other arrangements which protect them from excessive medicine costs.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €114 a month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals with ongoing expenditure on medicines.
People who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be eligible for a medical card. In accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the HSE. In certain circumstances the HSE may exercise discretion and grant a medical card, even though an applicant exceeds the income guidelines, where he or she faces difficult financial circumstances, such as extra costs arising from illness. In addition, where an applicant is over the income limit for a medical card, they are also assessed for a GP visit card, which entitles the applicant to GP visits without charge.
Finally, citizens may also be entitled to claim tax relief on the cost of their medical expenses, including medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist, or consultant. Relief is at the standard tax rate of 20%.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (1258)
David Cullinane
Question:1258. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists as inpatients and outpatients, respectively in all departments in University Hospital Waterford; the breakdown for the cardiology department including treatment and diagnoses; the number of persons on the waiting list for emergency cardiac care in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42250/21]
View answerWritten answers
It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last eighteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times. However, the HSE advise that acute services are now almost all fully restored to pre cyberattack levels, and are operating in line with relevant Covid protocols.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the NTPF. This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund are currently working on a Multiannual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years.
The information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of persons on waiting lists as inpatients and outpatients, respectively in all departments in University Hospital Waterford is provided in two of the attached documents. Regarding the information requested in respect of cardiac care, the third attached document provides a breakdown of routine and urgent elective cases and procedures.
NTPF waiting lists are collected in respect of outpatient specialties and inpatient/daycase procedures. Waiting times can be examined in terms of the appointment or procedure that a patient is waiting for, however it is not possible to do so on the basis of clinical diagnosis.
Cardiology University Hospital Waterford
National Maternity Hospital
Questions (1259, 1260, 1261)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the National Maternity Hospital project board is required to comply with the updated Public Spending Code lifecycle by submitting three separate business cases, preliminary, intermediate and final; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42252/21]
View answerRóisín Shortall
Question:1260. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position the business case submitted to his Department by the National Maternity Hospital project board in December 2020 currently lies in relation to the Public Spending Code life cycle decision making process; if the National Maternity Hospital business case submitted in December 2020 represents a preliminary business case seeking approval in principle, a detailed business case for pre-tender approval or a final business case for approval to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42253/21]
View answerRóisín Shortall
Question:1261. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if the National Maternity Hospital business case has been progressed since December 2020; if so, the way in which it has been progressed in relation to the Public Spending Code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42254/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1259, 1260 and 1261 together.
A business case for the national maternity hospital (NMH) relocation project was submitted to the Department of Health by the NMH Project Board in December 2020. This provided a comprehensive overview of the proposed project. However, as a project initiated prior to the updated Public Spending Code (PSC), the Project Board is undertaking additional work to ensure full compliance with the new PSC. It will be submitted to the Department, as Approving Authority, and to Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER) for technical review in due course.
The PSC is designed to ensure that investment decisions are underpinned by a clear policy rationale and that costs are well understood. In 2019, the PSC was updated and introduced a new project lifecycle, tightening the arrangements for project decision-making, and clarifying the roles of the parties involved, including the responsibilities for Sponsoring Agencies and Approving Authorities.
All capital development proposals must progress through a number of approval stages, in line with the new lifecycle approach of the updated PSC, including detailed appraisal, planning, design and procurement before a firm timeline or funding requirement can be established.
The specific requirements that must be included in a business case at the various stages of the PSC, and the stages at which these are to be published, are detailed at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/public-spending-code/
Whilst the NMH project pre-dates the updated PSC requirements, the PSC requires that so-called “legacy projects” undergo the same level of scrutiny as new proposals.
The business case for the relocation of the NMH to Elm Park is well advanced, but is being updated to ensure that it fully complies with all elements required under the updated PSC and by the National Investment Office in D/PER.
Once the business case has been updated, it will be subject to review in line with the requirements under Decision Gates 1 and 2 of the PSC. This approach is consistent with legacy projects across other areas of Government.
The Project Board has been working on updating these requirements and an updated business case is expected by the Department in the coming weeks.
If the technical review considers the business case to be in compliance with the PSC, the project proposal will be submitted to Government for approval-in-principle to progress to the next stage of the PSC. If approved-in-principle is granted to the business case, the project can move to the preparation of tender documents in line with EU Law and deployment of a tendering strategy.
Question No. 1260 answered with Question No. 1259.
Question No. 1261 answered with Question No. 1259.
Hospital Services
Questions (1262)
Michael Lowry
Question:1262. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive will increase diabetic services at University Hospital Limerick (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42257/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (1263)
Denis Naughten
Question:1263. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a compensation scheme for families of health workers who have died from coronavirus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42261/21]
View answerWritten answers
Work is ongoing in my Department on the development of a scheme to benefit the families of frontline healthcare workers who died from COVID-19, where it is likely that they contracted the virus in work.
I intend to bring a proposal to Government in respect of the scheme shortly. Details of the scheme will be made available once it has been approved by Government.
However, I can confirm that the proposed scheme is being developed to apply retrospectively to deaths of all frontline healthcare workers delivering services during the pandemic where they are likely to have contracted Covid-19 during the course of their work.
Information and Communications Technology
Questions (1264)
Róisín Shortall
Question:1264. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the timeline he is working towards for the implementation of The National Medical Laboratory Information System project which was promised to begin roll-out in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42266/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this programme is being managed within the HSE, I have asked the relevant areas within the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medicinal Products
Questions (1265, 1281)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:1265. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Health the status of the reimbursement application of a drug (details supplied); the expected timeframe for the completion of negotiations regarding the pricing and reimbursement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42279/21]
View answerMichael Healy-Rae
Question:1281. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42331/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1265 and 1281 together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In line with the 2013 Health Act and the national framework agreed with industry, if a company would like a medicine to be reimbursed by the HSE, the company must submit an application to the HSE to have the new medicine added to the reimbursement list.
Reimbursement is for licensed indications which have been granted market authorisation by the European Medicines Agency or the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria, including efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact.
HSE decisions on which medicines are reimbursed by the taxpayer are made on objective, scientific and economic grounds, on the advice of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
I am advised by the HSE that, in April 2020, the NCPE received a reimbursement application dossier for Onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma) for the treatment of patients with 5q spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with a bi-allelic mutation in the SMN1 gene and a clinical diagnosis of SMA type 1, or patients with 5q SMA with a bi-allelic mutation in the SMN1 gene and up to 3 copies of the SMN2 gene.
On 13 May 2020, the NCPE completed a rapid review with respect to this application and recommended a full Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to assess the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Zolgensma compared with the current standard of care.
The HTA was undertaken as a part of the Beneluxa collaboration between Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, with Austria acting as a reviewer in the Belgian procedure.
The HTA was completed in May 2021. The NCPE recommended that Zolgensma not be considered for reimbursement unless cost-effectiveness could be improved relative to existing treatments.
Pricing/reimbursement negotiations are currently underway, having commenced in July 2021.
A final decision on the pricing/reimbursement application for Zolgensma will be made in accordance with the 2013 Health Act.
Question No. 1266 answered with Question No. 956.
Question No. 1267 answered with Question No. 953.
Question No. 1268 answered with Question No. 988.
Question No. 1269 answered with Question No. 956.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (1270)
Brendan Griffin
Question:1270. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter regarding payment to pharmacies for the administration of vaccines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42292/21]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible